But wait—there’s more. Refs get per diem. That’s money for food and travel. It’s about $200 per game day.
They also fly first class to games. And they stay in nice hotels. It’s not a bad life for someone who loves football.
The real joke? They spend 40 hours a week studying film. Just like the players. But they only get paid for Sundays.
How Does This Compare to Other Jobs?
Let’s get weird with it. An NFL ref makes more than a nuclear engineer (average: $120k). They earn double a dentist ($160k).
Yet, they make less than a top plastic surgeon ($400k). But can a plastic surgeon throw a flag for holding? No. Perspective.
It’s also more than a university president ($200k). And way more than a astronaut ($150k). So, yes, the ref in your living room is ballin’.
